Kike will make his Championship debut for Middlesbrough after completing a £2.8m summer move from Real Murcia. Kenneth Omeruo will also start after finalising his loan move from Chelsea this week, but the midfielder could have to play at right-back as Aitor Karanka has not been able to replace Jozsef Varga, who left at the end of last season. Jacob Butterfield is unlikely to start after a week that saw him turn down a move to Huddersfield.

BIRMINGHAM TEAM NEWS

Lee Clark had to change his plans this week when Tom Adeyemi left to join Cardiff. The Blues boss must also decide whether to play skipper Paul Robinson, whose pre-season preparations were affected by a jarred knee.

It’s a fact: It has been a summer of wholesale change at St Andrew’s, with Birmingham losing 16 of the players who were involved last season and bringing in 13 new faces.

Comment by Scott Wilson: Aitor Karanka hasn’t quite got the team he wants yet, but he’s getting there and Middlesbrough certainly look more settled than today’s opponents. As a result, they should make a winning start.

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